Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

The Touch of a Really Good Author

Posted on August 18, 2011 by hessd

Some part of the genius of Ursula Le Guin is that she hides the crucial evidence in plain sight. In her Tales From EarthSea, Le Guin gives us a little girl named Dragonfly. She first appears in a subordinate clause … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The VIP Treatment

Posted on August 16, 2011 by hessd

I’m going to take a look today at practicing being old.  You can laugh, but it isn’t as simple an idea as it appears.  I have placed it in my set of categories as “Getting Old, but being old isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Leave a comment

Grounds for Hope

Posted on August 14, 2011 by hessd

Joe Nocera, the New York Times columnist shared with us today that Starbucks has an idea that might help us all.  Here’s the short version. In effect, Schultz thinks the country should go on strike against its politicians. “The fundamental … Continue reading →

Posted in Saturday Evening Post | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

TMI

Posted on August 13, 2011 by hessd

I want to think out loud about TMI today—“too much information.”[1]  I think we do give too much information sometimes, but I suspect that most of the time that particular way of saying “Shut up!” really means something else.  This … Continue reading →

Posted in Love and Marriage | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Attractive Older Women”

Posted on August 11, 2011 by hessd

Somehow, I have gotten a reputation for being narrow-minded.  Even some of my friends think that.  Of course, I don’t think so.  I do have some liabilities—well, THOSE, sure, but I was thinking of something relevant to today’s topic—and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology | Leave a comment

Words with clean sharp edges

Posted on August 9, 2011 by hessd

I don’t usually have any trouble telling when a particular usage is wrong.  Sometimes when I try to say just what is wrong about it, it takes longer.  But then when I try to think why is it really harmful … Continue reading →

Posted in Words | 1 Comment

Don’t Give Up on Electoral Politics

Posted on August 8, 2011 by hessd

There has been so much hand-wringing about the debt-limit debate.  All of it justified, in my opinion.  A few posts ago, I compared it to a “game” of Russian roulette rather than the more common metaphor of a “game” of … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

Where Does This Issue Belong?

Posted on August 6, 2011 by hessd

It’s an “issue,” as we say.  It concerns a lot of people.  Something ought to be done about it. Let’s imagine the easiest possible resolution.  There are three leaders in this societal constellation: one of the polity, one for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Obama’s Bedside Manner Needs Work

Posted on August 4, 2011 by hessd

It occurred to me recently, that back in the bad old days of medicine when there was very little you could actually do for a patient, people understood their job to be “being with” the patient and making him or … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

America the Litigious

Posted on August 3, 2011 by hessd

This note recognizes the past, present, and likely future of Dr. Loren Fishman, a psychiatrist. The good doctor was driving along innocently one day when a taxi pulled in front of his car.  He swerved to avoid the taxi and … Continue reading →

Posted in Words | Leave a comment